Tag: Prioress

Ready to ‘Geaux’ for Labor Day Weekend

A trio of highly regarded sophomores will take on their elders in a fantastic renewal of Saturday's GI FanDuel Pacific Classic S. at Del Mar, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

The 5-2 morning-line favorite Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) leads the way for the 3-year-olds after defeating GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) by 1 3/4 lengths in Monmouth Park's GI TVG.com Haskell S. July 22. He will look to follow in the hoofprints of his leading sire Candy Ride, who won the Pacific Classic in 2003.

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella has won the Pacific Classic four times–Beholder (2015), Pleasantly Perfect (2004), Gentlemen (Arg) (1997) and Dare and Go (1996).

“He had us dreaming pretty high and still does,” Mandella said of the Pin Oak Stud colorbearer.

Geaux Rocket Ride has drawn the rail for the second straight race. “Just happy to be there,” Mandella said.

The Bob Baffert-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) was the beaten favorite in the Haskell, finishing third while making his first start since capturing Oaklawn's GIII Southwest S. Jan. 28.

Skinner (Curlin), a strong third in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Apr. 8, was forced to sit out the Kentucky Derby with an elevated temperature. He resurfaced with a useful second-place finish in the Los Alamitos Derby July 8.

The field of 11 also includes: 2021 Pacific Classic winner Tripoli (Kitten's Joy); this year's GI Santa Anita H. winner Stilleto Boy (Shackleford); and four runners out of the local prep GII San Diego H.–Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) (1st), Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) (2nd), Defunded (Dialed In) (4th) and Tripoli (fifth).

“It's an evenly matched, highly competitive field,” Tripoli's trainer John Sadler said. “You can make a case for a lot of different horses, so it should be a good race; nice mix of 3-year-olds and older horses.”

Del Mar's stacked 11-race program also includes: the 'Win and You're In' GII Del Mar H. (Longines Turf) and GIII Green Flash H. (Turf Sprint); the GII Del Mar Mile S., led by the streaking GI Shoemaker Mile S. winner Exaulted (Twirling Candy); and the GIII Torrey Pines S., highlighted by the return of GISW 'TDN Rising Star' Faiza (Girvin).

Jockey Club Gold Cup Day at the Spa…

A field of eight will line up for Saratoga's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S., a 'Win and You're In' for the Classic.

Rattle N Roll (Connect), a winner of three straight graded races earlier this term, was freshened following a second-place finish in the GI Stephen Foster S. July 1. The 9-5 morning-line favorite has posted five straight triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures.

Despite a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Stephen Foster, Proxy (Tapit)'s 5-year-old campaign also includes wins in the GII Oaklawn H. Apr. 22 and GIII Monmouth Cup S. July 22 and a close second in the GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 4. The Godolphin homebred has drawn the rail in the 1 1/4-mile feature.

“We knew from early on that he had a lot of talent and that's why we were so ready to give him all the time he needed and let him mature mentally and physically to where he's at now and it's really paying off,” trainer Mike Stidham said.

McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}), winner of Saratoga's GII Glens Falls S. Aug. 3, headlines a field of four entered for the 'Win and You're In' GII Flower Bowl S.

Dazzling Blue (Into Mischief), second behind the ill-fated Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic) in the GIII Victory Ride S. July 8, is the one to beat in the five-deep GII Prioress S.

Saturday's graded stakes action also includes a pair of deep fields for the GIII Big Ass Fans Music City S. and GIII Mint Millions S., both held at Kentucky Downs.

The post Ready to ‘Geaux’ for Labor Day Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Cilla, Souper Sensational Renew Rivalry In Raven Run

P. Dale Ladner's Cilla and Live Oak Plantation's Souper Sensational, who finished a half-length apart in last month's Prioress (G2) at Saratoga, headline a field of 13 3-year-old fillies entered Wednesday for Saturday's 23rd running of the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) going 7 furlongs on the main track at Keeneland.

The Lexus Raven Run is scheduled as the ninth race on Saturday's 10-race program with a 5:16 p.m. ET post time. First post Saturday is 1 p.m.

Trained by Brett Brinkman, Cilla returned Tuesday afternoon to Keeneland, where she finished sixth as a 62-1 shot in the Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select. Since then, the Louisiana-bred daughter of California Chrome has won three consecutive races highlighted by the Prioress victory.

Tyler Gaffalione will have the mount Saturday and break from post position seven.

Souper Sensational, winner of the Victory Ride (G3) at Belmont Park who has placed in three graded stakes, was runner-up in the Grade 1 Test prior to her run in the Prioress. Trained by Mark Casse, Souper Sensational will exit post position three and be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr.

Another Grade 2 winner in the field is Juddmonte's homebred Obligatory.

Trained by Bill Mott, Obligatory won the Eight Belles (G2) on April 30 at Churchill Downs going 7 furlongs. Runner-up in the Cotillion (G1) at Parx in her most recent start, Obligatory drew post 13 and will be ridden by Florent Geroux.

The field for the Lexus Raven Run, with riders and weights from the inside, is:

  1. Shalimar Gardens (Rafael Bejarano, 118 pounds)
  2. Joy's Rocket (Julien Leparoux, 118)
  3. Souper Sensational (Santana Jr., 118)
  4. Minute Waltz (Martin Garcia, 118)
  5. Strong Silent (Corey Lanerie, 118)
  6. Feeling Mischief (Mitchell Murrill, 118)
  7. Cilla (Gaffalione, 120)
  8. Caramel Swirl (Junior Alvarado, 118)
  9. Zainalarab (John Velazquez, 118)
  10. Someone Said So (Adam Beschizza, 118)
  11. Miss Speedy (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118)
  12. Just Read It (Gerardo Corrales, 118)
  13. Obligatory (Florent Geroux, 120)

The post Cilla, Souper Sensational Renew Rivalry In Raven Run appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Test Runner-Up Faces Array of New Shooters in Prioress

Heavily favored on the morning line, Live Oak Plantation's GI Longines Test S. runner-up Souper Sensational (Curlin) will likely need to run that race or better as she faces an intriguing field of emerging sophomore filly sprinters in Saturday's GII Prioress S. at Saratoga.

Named a 'TDN Rising Star' for an easy debut graduation last September at Woodbine, the $725,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga buy quickly backed that designation up with a four-length conquest of the Glorious Song S. Runner-up in the Silverbulletday S., she fell off the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks trail after running sixth in the GIII Rachel Alexandra S. and third in the GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks and was given a brief respite after a troubled-trip fourth in the GIII Eight Belles S. Apr. 30 at Churchill. Returning with a career high when annexing the GIII Victory Ride S. by 3 1/4 lengths July 10 at Belmont, she was no match for the dominant Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) in the Test, but kept on well enough to complete the exacta at 13-1.

Parx sensation Oxana (Uptowncharlybrown) gets her chance against the big girls after toying with a pair of overmatched fields at her home base. Fading to seventh debuting in a Monmouth turf sprint June 6, the $65,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic buy switched to the main track 17 days later and blew apart Pennsylvania-bred maidens to the tune of an 18-length victory, earning a 96 Beyer. Running identical quarter and half-mile splits next out in an open allowance there July 10, she again was all by herself in the lane, coasting home 10 1/4 lengths to the good.

Amendment Nineteen (Constitution) makes her first start for Juddmonte and Brad Cox following a private purchase from D J Stable and three promising starts for Linda Rice. Finishing full of run to be second on debut behind 'TDN Rising Star' Always Carina (Malibu Moon), the $20,000 Keeneland November bargain overcame a slow break and wide trip to graduate next out over a sloppy mile May 31 at Belmont and was runner-up in a local allowance July 24 while finishing nine lengths clear of third.

Edie Meeny Miny Mo (Upstart), an open-lengths winner against $40,000 maiden claimers on debut Apr. 23 at Pimlico, repeated by six lengths with a 91 Beyer in an allowance/optional claimer there June 13 and turns back after not quite being able to see out two turns when second as a 6-5 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile GIII Monmouth Oaks July 31.

Louisiana-bred Cilla (California Chrome) makes her first start for the Charlton Baker barn after back-to-back sharp stakes successes in the state-bred Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle S. at Evangeline and off-the-turf Blue Sparkler S. July 10 at Monmouth.

The post Test Runner-Up Faces Array of New Shooters in Prioress appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Souper Sensational Returns To The Spa For Prioress

Live Oak Plantation's graded stakes-winner Souper Sensational will look to build on a strong runner-up effort in a stakes sprint at Saratoga Race Course with a return engagement at the summer meet, headlining a six-horse field of 3-year-old fillies in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress contested at six furlongs at the Spa.

The 74th running of the Prioress, slated as Race 5 on the 12-race card, will be part of a packed day that includes the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold up for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/4 miles in a “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Del Mar; the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl for older fillies and mares going 1 3/8 miles on the turf [“Win and You're In” for Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf; and the Grade 3, $200,000 Saranac for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. First post will be 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

Souper Sensational notched her first graded stakes win with a 3 1/4-length score in the Grade 3 Victory Ride on July 10 at Belmont. Making her Saratoga debut, Souper Sensational stalked the pace before running second to Bella Sofia in the Grade 1 Longines Test contested at seven furlongs on August 7 over a fast track.

Returning three weeks later and shortened up in distance, the daughter of Hall of Famer Curlin will again team with jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr., drawing the outermost post.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said Souper Sensational, a $725,000 purchase at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Sale, has been training forwardly at Saratoga since the Test, including a four-furlong breeze in 47.88 seconds on August 25 over the main track.

“She's doing well. She's a nice horse,” Casse said. “We've been proud of her efforts. She came out of the Test well and is doing everything right.”

Holly Hill Stables' Edie Meeny Miny Mo handled the step up in class last out, running second to Leader of the Band in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks on July 31.

Unraced as a juvenile, the Miguel Vera trainee dominated in her first two career starts at Monmouth, posting a 4 1/4-length debut win on April 23 at six furlongs before besting optional claimers going the same distance on June 13.

After making a strong account of herself against steeper competition, the Upstart filly will make her Saratoga debut with Hall of Famer Victor Espinoza, who rode her in the Monmouth Oaks, back in the irons from post 2.

“She's going to get to the race in perfect condition. I'm very happy with the way she's training,” Vera said. “I'm excited to see her run in New York. The last race, I was happy with how she ran. She didn't break sharp enough but then she did everything right. I'd be more confident if she can sit behind the speed, like we had planned it for that race, but there was no speed in there, so she had to go on the lead. I still think she did awesome for the first time in a graded stakes and going two turns.”

Edie Meeny Mino Mo was a $400,000 purchase at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Vera said returning to sprinting could also be a positive for his horse, who will add blinkers.

“I think she can be a good distance horse, but I she needs a little more experience,” Vera said.

D.J. Stable's Amendment Nineteen will elevate to stakes company for the first time after sandwiching a victory around runner-up efforts in her first three starts for reigning Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox. The Constitution filly ran second in her debut in April sprinting six furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack and posted a maiden-breaking two-length score stretched out to a one-turn mile over a sloppy and sealed Belmont track on May 30.

After running second in a seven-furlong allowance sprint on July 24 at Saratoga, Amendment Nineteen will return to the same track, exiting post 5 with Jose Ortiz drawing the assignment.

Tee-N-Jay Farm's Oxana won her last two starts at Parx in dominating fashion and she makes her first stakes start. Trained by Timothy Hills, the Pennsylvania-bred Oxana ran a dull seventh on turf in her debut in June at Monmouth but has thrived since moving to dirt, drawing away for an 18-length score against a seven-horse field of fellow state breds going 6 1/2 furlongs on June 23. Oxana then posted another double-digit length win [10 1/4] competing at six furlongs against older, open company last out on July 20.

The daughter of Uptowncharlybrown will pick up the services of jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. from the inside post.

Joel Politi's Li'l Tootsie made her turf debut last out in the Galway, running ninth on August 15 at Saratoga, but will return to the main track for the Prioress. Trainer Tom Amoss tried the Tapiture filly on the grass for the first time after a ninth-place finish in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks in July and will see if she can show the form displayed when she started her sophomore campaign 2-for-2 with both wins at Fair Grounds.

Dylan Davis will have the call from post 3.

P.D. Ladner's Cilla enters her first Saratoga appearance off back-to-back stakes wins as she makes her first start for trainer Charlton Baker after previously being trained by Brett Brinkman. Cilla won the Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle in June at Evangeline before capturing the off-the-turf Blue Sparkler on July 10 at Monmouth Park.

Cilla, 4-0-2 in nine career starts, will have Tyler Gaffalione in the irons from post 4.

Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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